August M
After months of public sparring, US President Donald Trump has offered a notably warmer assessment of Elon Musk. The shift follows signs that the once-close relationship between the two men may be stabilising after a very public rupture.
The comments come amid renewed contact that suggests a tentative reset rather than a full reconciliation.
From allies
According to UNILAD, Trump and Musk were previously close allies. Musk openly supported Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and was later appointed to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, tasked with cutting government spending.
Musk left the administration in December 2024. Not long after, Trump said he was “disappointed” by Musk’s behaviour as disagreements spilled into public view.
What followed was a period of increasingly visible distance between the two.
Signs of repair
By the autumn, Trump indicated that communication had resumed. Musk also struck a more conciliatory tone in a November appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, saying Trump was not as “evil” as some critics suggested.
Over the weekend, Musk posted a photo showing himself dining with Trump and first lady Melania Trump. “Had a lovely dinner last night with @POTUS and @FLOTUS,” he wrote on X.
Musk added: “2026 is going to be amazing!”
Policy tensions
The original rupture stemmed from policy disagreements. Musk criticised Trump’s flagship economic proposal, described by the president as a “big, beautiful bill” aimed at extending tax cuts and reshaping federal spending.
Musk argued the plan would undermine efforts to reduce the national debt and publicly attacked the legislation in unusually strong terms.
During the dispute, Musk later made and then withdrew serious allegations against Trump, escalating tensions before deleting the posts in what appeared to be an attempt to defuse the situation.
Trump’s verdict
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on January 4, Trump offered his most positive comments yet about the tech billionaire.
“Elon’s great,” he said, adding: “He’s 80% super genius and 20% he makes mistakes, but he’s a good guy. He’s a well meaning person.”
The remarks marked a sharp contrast with Trump’s earlier expressions of frustration.
High-profile setting
Fox News reported that the dinner took place at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, a venue frequently used for high-level meetings. The location has recently hosted discussions with foreign leaders, including talks related to the war in Ukraine.
Whether the renewed warmth signals a lasting political partnership remains uncertain.
Sources: UNILAD, Fox News
